University of Florida Diabetes Institute

04/09/2026

The University of Florida Diabetes Institute was proud to be represented at the Emory Global Diabetes Research Center for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) P30 Core Annual Meeting and the Georgia Center For Diabetes Translation Research Technology Core Workshop.

Dr. Ashby Walker delivered a keynote on ECHO Diabetes and expanding technology capacity in Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Dr. Brittany Bruggeman presented her pilot award work focused on provider-level barriers to prescribing diabetes technology. We are so honored to see UFDI faculty helping shape the future of diabetes care. 👏👏

04/08/2026

Navigating a new type 1 diabetes diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone.

If you or your child (1–25 years of age) were recently diagnosed, you or your child may be eligible to join the βETA PRESERVE Study. This clinical study is exploring whether an investigational study drug can help preserve the body’s ability to make insulin and reduce the need for daily insulin therapy, while keeping blood glucose levels within acceptable limits. Click the link to learn more or see if the study is a fit for your family.

https://endo.pediatrics.med.ufl.edu/resources/type-1-diabetes/type-1-diabetes/

04/01/2026

New research from UF Health explores a promising therapy designed to protect the body’s insulin-producing beta cells from immune attack.

Unlike traditional treatments that suppress the entire immune system, this approach works directly at the site of damage to signal immune cells to stop attacking beta cells. Early findings show the therapy may preserve normal insulin production in human tissue models.

Read the full article below.
UF College of Medicine

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It is, in a sense, like visiting the scene of an intended crime. A new University of Florida Health study details a new strategy to…

03/27/2026

A recent study from UF Health has mapped hidden immune signals involved in Type 1 diabetes, offering new insight into how the disease develops beneath the surface. By identifying these early immune patterns, researchers are moving closer to earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment approaches.

Read the full article below.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Type 1 diabetes researchers have made great progress in understanding the disease in the last two decades, even as a cure remains elusive.…

03/10/2026

Congratulations to Alexandra Rippa on receiving a Breakthrough T1D Postdoctoral Fellowship Award.

With this support, she will build on her recent 3D human pancreas study (https://rdcu.be/eV1vD) and investigate early histopathological changes associated with Type 1 Diabetes risk by combining advanced light-sheet fluorescence 3D imaging with protein-targeted, high-content 2D image analysis.

We thank Breakthrough T1D for their continued and impactful commitment to supporting innovative diabetes research and early-career researchers.

02/25/2026

We are honored to spotlight "About the Editor: Mark Atkinson, PhD — A Leading Voice in Type 1 Diabetes Research,” in Diabetes Care, celebrating the remarkable career of Dr. Mark Atkinson, PhD. As a pioneer in type 1 diabetes research and longtime leader in the field, Dr. Atkinson’s work has profoundly shaped our understanding of disease prediction and prevention. His decades of scientific dedication and mentorship continue to advance the future of diabetes care and inspire the next generation of researchers.

Read the full article here:
https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/49/3/364/164476/About-the-Editor-Mark-Atkinson-PhD-A-Leading-Voice

02/25/2026

We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Aaron Cox, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at UTHealth Houston, to the UFDI Spring Seminar Series! Following an in-depth tour of the UFDI’s history led by Dr. Mark Atkinson, Dr. Cox delivered a compelling talk entitled, "Signaling pathways governing beta cells proliferation and survival." Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Dr. Cox for sharing his research!

02/19/2026

This Giving Day, please consider supporting the Diabetes Institute with a gift. Every contribution helps advance our mission to improve the lives of those affected by diabetes.

Your donation supports critical work across the Institute, including:

1. ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes): A statewide tele-mentoring network that equips healthcare providers with the latest diabetes expertise, expanding high-quality care to underserved and rural communities.

2. TARGET-Diabetes : Using artificial intelligence to discover better treatments for Type 1 diabetes by repurposing safe, existing medications and speeding them toward patients.

3. Food Is Medicine (FiM): partnering with colleges across the University of Florida campus to bring diabetes education into the Food is Medicine program.

4. Trials and Screening: Connecting patients to advanced therapies and preventative care through clinical trials and early detection programs.

5. Research to Cure Diabetes: Leading the way in basic and translational research focused on preventing and ultimately curing diabetes.

Make your impact here: https://givingday.ufl.edu/campaigns/uf-diabetes-institute

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02/19/2026

Giving Day is almost here! Join us in advancing diabetes research, care, education, and outreach at the University of Florida Diabetes Institute as we work together toward a diabetes-free world. Your gift fuels groundbreaking discoveries, compassionate clinical care for patients and families, and the training of future scientists developing cutting-edge treatments.

Make your impact today: https://givingday.ufl.edu/campaigns/uf-diabetes-institute

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02/18/2026

Type 1 diabetes care is rapidly evolving. What do the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment, and technology mean for patients and clinicians?

We are proud to announce a new authoritative review from Dr. Desmond Schatz and Dr. Laura Jacobsen in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) synthesizing the most current evidence shaping care.

Read the full review here:

This narrative review discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of type 1 diabetes.

02/13/2026

We are proud to share our latest research published in Science Advances detailing the identification of a type 1 diabetes–associated T cell receptor profile from human peripheral blood. This study sheds light on immune signatures that may help guide future diagnostics and therapies in T1D.

Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/eANMxk-Z

This work was supported by grants from the HCTrust, National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), UiO World-Leading Research Community, UiO: LifeScience Convergence Environment Immunolingo, EU Horizon 2020 iReceptorplus, Norwegian Cancer Society, and Research Council of Norway.

Thank you to all the collaborators and funders who helped make this possible.

02/11/2026

The UF College of Medicine’s 16th Annual Celebration of Research showcased the scientific progress making an impact throughout our community and beyond.

The event began with a Research Symposium, where Dr. Todd Brusko and Dr. Laura Jacobsen represented the UFDI by discussing emerging diabetes innovations both in research and clinical practice.

The celebration continued with a poster session in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, where students showcased cutting-edge findings related to College of Medicine biomedical research. Posters demonstrating excellence received awards based on discipline and research career stage.

Thank you to all who made this event a success, and well done to our researchers and students for sharing their discoveries throughout the College of Medicine.